Much of Walmart’s success has been based upon its ability to deliver name brands at much lower price than competitors. This is threatened because Americans are no longer buying name brands. Three of the fastest growing retailers; Aldi, Costco and Trader Joe’s, base their business model on a limited selection of low-cost but high-quality private label products.

The bottom line is that the economy is not working for average Americans. Incomes are falling and destroying America’s economic health. Inequality is growing too as technology lets the affluent take advantage of opportunities such as the booming stock market while the average family has a hard time buying groceries.

Nor would the increased wage necessarily raise people out of poverty. A working mother with two kids that earned Nebraska’s increased minimum wage of $9 an hour would make $17,280 a year if she worked full time (40 hours a week). That woman would still be below the federal poverty level. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has set the poverty level for a family of three at $19,790 a year.